Skylight structure



July 16, 1929. w. F. OTHER SKYLIGHT STRUCTURE ori inal Filed Feb. 23, 1926 r I In ll'll Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. OTHER, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SKYLIGHT STRUCTURE.

Application filed February 23, 1926, Serial No. 89,937. Renewed December 17, 1928.

This invention relates to skylight structure.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved frame structure for supporting the glass panels of skylights, whereby bending of the frame structure is prevented and the panels are supported with permanent impervous joints between them and the supporting frames.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view from below of a part of the frame structure illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an upper plan view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

Heretofore in skylight structure the fact that the frames supporting the glass panels were subject to stresses which caused lateral movement or deflection of parts of the frames resulted in loosening the connection of the panels with the frames, permitting water and other substances to work through the joints, and also resulting in the working loose of the panels which sometimes dropped out of the frames.

The present invention prevents these objectionable results and consists of means for holding the panel frames rigidly in the positions of their original installation so that tight joints are maintained between the panels and the supporting frames, and the panels are prevented from working loose and dropping out of the frames.

The skylight glass panels 1 have their edges seated in the grooves formed by upper and lower flanges 2 shown as formed integral with and extending laterally from webs This frame is composed of soft flexible metal or metallic alloy, permitting the flanges 2 to be spread apart a suflicient distance to receive the edges of the glass panels and then pressed closely against the panels to form impervious joints with or without the use of some sealing material, as the installation may require. Each web 3 is of a single thickness of material and the flanges 2 as shown are relatively wide.

Due to the flexible quality of the frame it yields to stresses to which it is subjected,

with the result that the impervious joints are broken permitting penetration and passage of water and other substances and eventually resulting in the working out of the panels from the frame.

I obviate these objectionable results by use of bars against one edge of which the panel support ng frame is placed. The bars I are of suflicient strength to resist the stresses and strains to which the panel supporting frames are subjected.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the panel supporting frames are attached to the bars 4 at proper intervals, each at tachment comprising a pair of bolts 5 passing through the panel supporting frame at the sides of the bar and through washers 6 and 7, of which the washer 6 is against the panel supporting frame and the washer 7 crosses the bar 4. The washers 6 and 7 are substantially inflexible so that when the nuts are screwed upon the ends of the bolts 5 a rigid structure is obtained that will resist the strains and stresses of the panel supporting frame.

The modification of Fig. 4 comprises for each connection a screw 8 passing through a Washer 9 against the panel supporting frame and being screwed into a threaded hole 10 in the bar 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention is eflicient for the purposes for which it is intended and will retain the skylight structure in the form of its original installation indefinitely. The invention may be varied otherwise and applied to other uses than those specifically stated, and I do not restrict myself in these or other unessential particulars.

WVhat- I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a skylight structure, an integral frame composed of soft flexible metallic substance and comprising integrally united webs of single thickness of material forming panel receiving openings, and a pair of relatively wide spaced flanges extending from each side of each web and characterized by flexibility whereby they may be spread apart to receive between them and then clamp upon the edges of glass panels; and means clamping said flanges in clamped position at the union of said Webs.

WILLIAM F. OTHER. 

